Gaiter



April 27, 1937. WIESENFELD GAITER Filed April 24, 1936 .s fw/wh., TC yN m mf n :n A ,i W o e L WITNESSES Patented Apr. 27, 1931 2,078,550

ATENT OFFICE GAITER Leo Wiesenfeld, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 24, 1936, Serial No. 76,160

8 Claims. (Cl. 36-2) The present invention relates to gaiters or be worked in the fabric projecting from the spats and has for its object to produce va gaiter heads forwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1. Upon which when worn will have the appearance of a the underside of the ap I the socket members conventional andstandard form of gaiter. Will present the usual opening to receive the 5, A further object is to improve the fastenings spherical head I of the cooperating fastening 5 by which the gaiter is held on the foot and to so members carried by the under iiap 2.

UNITED einer construct them that each fastening will com- The cooperating fastening members 'I are prise a yieldingly extensible member independriveted or clamped in the usual way to the outer ently removable when required. ends o-f elastic straps 8 which are formed of a 10: A further object is to provide means whereby continuous length of elastic webbing doubled 10 the fastenings may be quickly connected and upon itself and engaging the slot 9 of a metal disconnected and at the same time concealed loop Il), said loop being provided with a hook when on the foot leaving exposed only the simu- II for a purpose to be hereinafter described. lated buttons of one of the fastening members. The free ends of the straps 8 are held together To the above ends theinvention consists of the by the clamping disks I2 and I3 by which the l5 improved gaiter and the devices and combina-` ball members are secured thereto. Between the tions of devices as shown in the drawing and as free ends of the elastic connections is a reinforchereinafter described and claimed. .i ing metallic plate I4 through which passes the The invention is shown in the accompanying shank of the ball members of the fastening. As

drawing in whichindicated in Fig. 3, this clamping plate extends 20 Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a gaiter embodyrearwardly from the ball members not only coning the invention; stituting a reinforcement which assists in hold- Fig. 2 shows in full size a fragmentary portion ing the ball members to the elastic strap but also, of what will be referred to as the under flap, as will be hereinafter set forth, constitutes a parts being broken away toshow the underlying fulcrum to assist in disconnecting the members 25 construction; of the fastenings, and also as a guide for the Fig. 3 shows a plan view, partially broken away, sliding movement of the ball members due to the of one of the ball members of the fastenings elasticity of the straps to which they are conand extensible connection; nected when the gaiter is in use.

'Fig 4 shows a horizontal section, very much The under flap 2 is provided adjacent its free 30 enlarged, of portions of the overlapping flaps and edge with a plurality of aligned slots I5 through the fastenings, the section being taken on the line which the elastic connections 8 may be passed, 4-4 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the thus bringing the ball members to the outer surarrows in that figure; face of the under flap 2, these slots also re- Fig. 5 shows a sectional view taken on the line cevng and guiding the plates I4, as indicated in 35 5 5 in Fig. 2, also very much enlarged; dotted lines in Fig. 2 and as shown in Figs. 4 Fig. 6 shows in side elevation, somewhat enand 5. When thus inserted through the Slots larged, the device shown in Fig. 3. I5, the elastic connections will be upon the under Similar reference characters will be employed surface of the flap 2 in position so that the hooks 4,0 to designate corresponding parts. II may be engaged with metal loops I6 held by 40 As usual in devices of this kind, the side Opentextile loops II permanently secured in vertical ing is formed by what will be designated generalignment to the under surface of the flap 2 by ally as flaps I and 2, the flap I, which overlaps means of a stay I8 whlch 1s .stitched to the under the ap 2, being specifically referred to as the surface of the flap 2,'sa1d stitching passing upper flap, and the flap 2'being specifically through the doubled textile loops I'I. The row of 4,- referred to as the under ap. metal loops I6 are pos1tioned rearwardly with The upper flap I will be provided with a row of relation to the row of slots I5 so that the elastic fastening members 3 permanently affixed thereto connections 8 when not under tension willpermit by the flanges 4 and the heads 5, the fabric cf the projection of the forward ends carrying the the flap I being provided with apertures to ball members normally to a point within the 50 receive the socket members. The heads 5 which edge of the under iiap 2 and exposed on the show on the outer surface of the flap I simulate upper or outer surface thereof to be engaged by buttons, and if desired to still further simulate the sockets upon the under surface of the upper the ordinary button and button holes of the coniiap.

ventional gaiter, imitation button holes 6 may The arrangement 1s such that when the fas- 55 tening members are engaged, as shown in Fig. 4, the ball members and extensible elastic straps will be covered by the upper flap I, the socket members being so disposed with relation to the edge of the upper flap I that the desired elastic play or stretch of the elastic connections 8 may be effected without moving the ilap I a sufficient distance to expose any part of the fastenings or connections carried by the flap 2. Preferably the under surface of the flap 2 will lbe provided with a pocket I9 formed by a strip of material 20 stitched along one edge as indicated at 2|, and at its upper and lower edge as indicated at 22, with the inner edge 23 free, thus forming an effective covering for the under surface of the attachments and fastening members `carried by the under flap 2, while at the 4same time .permitting access to the detachable hooks and 'loops by which the elastic connections 8 are-Sheld in place.

The under surface of theupper flap I may, if desired, carry a flexible reinforcement 24 through which `the socket members are passed and clamped and, if desired, a stay 25 may also be employed Vto secure the reinforcement 24 adjacent the edge of the overlapping ap I. The gaiter will of course be provided with any usual form of arch strap 26 passing under the foot in the usual manner.

In use the upper flap I will be brought over the edge of the under flap 2 and the ball and socket members of the fastenings will be snapped and coupled in the usual manner and, as before explained, the fastening of 'the overlapping aps of the gaiter will conceal all parts of the fastenings excepting the heads'` 5 of the socket members which will be exposed on the outer surface of the nap I to simulate buttons. In uncoupling the members it is only necessary to take holdof the outer ap I near the top, and vpull forward thereon. This will disconnect the ball and socket fastenings and thatrresult is greatly facilitated by reason of the plates I 4 whichas before stated, act as fulcrums and provide considerable yleverage, resisting the bending movement of the ball members which might result from the forcing forwardly of the edge of the iiap- I, thus causing the ball members to snap out of the socket members rather freely under the strain imparted .to the edge of the upper flap I. The arrangement of course forms a secure but yielding connection and one in which independent ball members may be removed and 4replaced' as required, either for cleaning the gaiter or for inserting new elastic connections, and while they are each free to yield under the stress produced by the bending of the ankle while walking, nevertheless the .character of the fastenings will be effectually covered and hidden by the overlapping outer flap.

I claim: p

1. A gaiter or spat comprising overlapping flaps, the outer flap being provided upon its outer' surface parallel to its edge with a row of simulated buttons each carrying a socket member at its inner face, said socket member opening upon the under surface of the outer iiap, the ,inner flap being provided with a row of ball members positioned upon its outer surface adjacent to but wholly within the edge thereof to be engaged with the socket members of the outerl flap, each of said ball members being secured to the outer end of one of a group of `independent elastic straps mounted upon the under surface of the inner nap and each of said straps being independently and detachably connected at its end to the inner ap.

2. A gaiter or spat comprising overlapping flaps, the outer flap being provided upon its outer surface parallel to its edge with a row of simulated buttons each carrying a socket member at its inner face, said socket member opening upon the under surface of the outer flap, the inner flap being provided with a row of ball members positioned upon its outer surfaceadjacent to but wholly within the edge thereof to beengaged with the socket members of the outer iiap, each` of said ball members being mountedV on the outer end of one of a group of independent elastic inner Vstraps mounted upon the under surface of the inner flapand each being independently and detachably connected at its inner end with the inner iiap; the inner flap being provided with aligned slots adjacent its free edge with the ends of the elastic straps and the ball members extended through and beyond said slots from the inner Eto the outer surface and Vmeansto stiifen said elastic straps to guide their movement through the slots.

3. A gaiter or spat as dened in claim 2, in which the stiffening means is carried by the elastic straps with the ball members secured thereto, said stiffening means extending through said slot and rearwardly of the ball members.

4. A' gaiter or spat comprising overlapping flaps, the outer flap being providedr upon'its vouter surface parallel to its edge with arow of simulated buttons each carrying a socket member at its inner face opening upon Athe under surface of the flap, the Vinner ap 4being provided with a row of ball members exposed upon itsouter surface adjacent to butl wholly within the edge thereof to be engaged with the'socket members of the outer flap, each lof, said ball'zmernbers Ybeing mounted on the outer endof ,one of a group of independent elastic straps mountedfupon the under surface of the inner flap and each being detachably connected at its `inner end with the inner flap; `the ball members being normally positioned closely adjacent to but within the edge of the inner flap with the edge of the outer flap extending rearwardly beyond'the socket. members when overlapping `the inner ap to cover and hide the ball members and the straps carried by the inner flap while permitting exi tensible movement thereof.

A5. A gaiter or `spat comprising overlapping flaps, the outer ilap being provided upon its outer surface parallel to its Vedge but at a vsubstantial distance therefrom with a row lof simulated buttons, each provided with one member of al fastener disposed upon the inner surface,V of the outer flap, the inner flapbeing provided with a row of complementary Vfastener members, each vof said members being mounted'on one `of 4a group of independent elastic extensible connections independently 4and detachably Vconnected to the Aiinner ap at their inner lends.V f I 6. A gaiter yor spat comprising overlapping iiaps, the outer ilap being provided upon its outer surface parallel to its edge butvat a substantial distance therefrom with a row of simulated buttons, each provided with one member of a fastener disposed upon the inner surface of the outer flap, the inner flap being provided with a row of complementary fastener members, each of said members being mounted on one of agroup of ,independent elastic extensible connections independently and detachably'connected to the inner ilap at their inner ends, rwith the edge of the outer flap extending rearwardly beyond the fastener members and simulated buttons to cover and protect the complementary fastener members and the extensible connections thereof While permitting the extensible move- 5 ment thereof when the fastener members are connected with each other.

7. A gaiter or spat comprising overlapping flaps, one of the flaps being provided with independent elastic straps, a fastener member at 10 the outer end of each of said straps and independently detachable connections at the inner end of said straps to attach said straps to the flap, and fastener members carried by the other flap to be engaged by the fastener members car- 15 ried by the elastic straps, said fastener members being so positioned with relation to the edges of the overlapping flaps as to be entirely concealed when connected with each other.

8. A gaiter or spat comprising overlapping 20 flaps, the outer fiap being provided upon its outer surface parallel to its edge with a row of simulated buttons each carrying a socket member at its inner face, said socket member opening upon the under surface of the outer flap,

the inner flap being provided with a row of ball members positioned upon its outer surface adjacent to but Wholly Within the edge thereof to be engaged with the socket members of the outer ap, each of said ball members being mounted on the outer end of one of a group of independent elastic straps secured to the under surface of the inner flap at their inner ends, the inner flap being provided with aligned slots adjacent its free edge with the ends of the elastic straps carrying the ball members extended through and beyond said slots from the inner to the outer surface of said flap and having a sliding movement therein, and stiffening and reinforcing plates secured to said elastic straps to guide the sliding movement of the straps through the slots.

LEO WIESENFELD. 

